Shock-absorber for vehicles.



No. 871,631. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907. 1). ROBINSON.

SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VB ES.

APPLIOJELTION FILED APR.15.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

D. ROBINSON. SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15,190'7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

III

Miilesses'.

MQAW.

DUNCAN ROBINSON, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOCK-ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed April 15, 1907. Serial No. 8233.

T oaZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, DUNCAN ROBINSON, of Brookline, county of Norfolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shock-Absorbersfor Vehicles, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to shock absorbers for vehicles and is intendedas an improve ment upon the shock absorber shown in my application forLetters Patent 347,458,

filed December 12, 1906. In 111 said application the shock absorber,broa y speaking, comprises a circularly movable sprmg controlled ring ormember, and means, operated by both the up and down movements of thevehicle body, relative to its running gear, for turning said ring ormember in the same direction, from its normal position, against theaction of its controlling-springs, to thereby resist both the up anddown movements ofsaid body.

In accordance with my present invention a circularly movable springcontrolled member or ring is likewise employed, which is turned in thesame direction from its normal position against the action of itscontrolling springs u on both the up and down movements of t e vehiclebody relative to the running, gear, but the construction of the shockabsorber is simplified, and the parts thereof .re-arranged, whereby allthe results accomthe device.

In the preferred form of my present invention the circularly movablespring controlled member is supported upon or by the vehicle bodya'ndis, therefore, moved bodily by it up and down, relative to the. runninggear, and a strap is attached to said member, which is connected-withthe axle or other part of the running gear, which operates to turn saidmember in the same direction from its movable position, against theaction of its controlling-springs, when pulled upon by the member movingeither up or down. The circularly movable spring controlled member islocated at one side of, as for instance, in front of or in rear of theaxle or other part of the running gear and on a level therewith orthereabouts, so that on a downward movement of the body the movablemember is bodily moved downward with respect to the axle and is turnedagainst the action of its controlling-springs by the strap which is connected with the axle, and on an upward movement of the body said movablemember is bodily moved upward'with respect to the axle and is turnedagainst the action of its controlling-springs, in the same direction,from its normal-position, by the strap which is connected with the axle.

By the construction and arrangement of my present device forward andbackward movements of the vehicle body, relative to the running gear,are also provided against.

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the shock absorber embodying thisinvention, the front plate being removed from the ring to expose thesprings, and the axle being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe parts shown in Fig. 1 the axle being omitted. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of the shock absorber shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line33. Fig. 4 1s a detail of the hub to which the springs are connected. Fi.'5 is a detail showing a different form of ax e and means forconnecting. the strap thereto. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the band whichpasses around the axle andserves to connect the strap thereto. Figs. 7,8 and 9 show a modified form of shock absorber embodying my invention.Figs. 10 and 11 show another modified form of shock absorberembodying myinvention.

Referring to *Figs. 1 to 4, a represents a non-rotating hub, which, asherein shown, see particularly Fig. 4, is recessed to receive aplurality of controlling-springs. This hub comprises a circular base anda recessed spring-receiving portion. This hub is bolted or otherwisesecured to an arm a which is adapted to be bolted or otherwise securedto a bracket 0. which is adapted to be attached to the body of thevehicle. The bracket a as well as the supporting arm a, may be of anysuitable construction so far as my invention is concerned, yet, asherein shown, is made of strap-iron or equivalent material,

in order that it' may be adapted to be attached to diflerent vehiclebodies without material alteration, as for instance, it may be out oifor it may be drilled at different 'pointsto provide for lengthening andshortit. The .hub serves, as and constitutes the non-rotating orstationary member of the shock absorber to which the controlling-springsare attached. So far as my. present invention is concerned said hub orequivalent non-rotating member may be connected with the vehicle body byany suitable means in lieu of the bracket and supporting arm hereinshown.

The controlling-springs d are made as C-springs, preferably composedeach of a plurality of leaves, and said springs are constructed to fitthe recesses or seats which are provided for them in the hub, and theyare bolted or otherwise secured to said hub. In practice I find springsof this form'are par-. ticularly well suited for the purposes of myinvention, as they can be made very strong.

and durable and also very elastic, having a wide range of movement,which increases progressively with the distance moved, yet I do notdesire to limit my invention to the employment of controlling springs ofthis form.

e represents. a circularly movable ring, which is placed upon orincloses the hub a, and to the inner side of said ring the outer ends ofthe controlling-springs d are bolted or otherwise secured. The ring ismade much larger in diameter than the hub to rovide for the springs,which are of quite ar 'e dimensions.

K flange e is formed on or provided at one side of the ring, whichloosely fits the circular base of the hub.

'A circular plate is secured to the opposite side of the ring, toinclose the parts within the .ring and thereby protect them from injury.The ring 6 serves as and constitutes the circularly movable member oftheshock absorber to which the controlling-springs are attached.

which is adapted to surround the axle and,

its ends to. be connected together, as shown in 1, and said band has aloop oreye at any desirable point, to which the strap is con ect d; orai an ay over ie the ax e as hb n i Fig. 5, an i en s con nected with aplate 9 This stra however, may-be connected'with the'ax e or other .parof. the r nning gea in any other ner, and furthermore any other meansmay be employed for connect-mg the circularly movable member withtheaxle or other art of the running gear without departing cm the spiritand scope of my invention, wl1en adapted to operate said circularlymovable member in the manner herein described.

The circularly movable member or ring is located in front. of or in rearof the axle, and for the'best results is so located with respect theretothat thelower edge of the. ring is on a level with the middle of theaxle. When 7 so located that portion of the strap between the ring andaxle occu ies a horizontal plane, yet the ring may be isposed a littleabove or a little below such level. 'When the ring is located withrespect to the axle, as shown 8 in Fig. 1, the distance between thetangent point of the ring andstrap andthe axle is the shortest, and anymovement of the ring, from such point, exce t in'a' direction toward theaxle will act to pu l on the strap and turn 8 the ring, or in otherwords any bodily movement of the ring relative'to the point ofattachment of the strap, except in a direction toward said point ofattachment will act to the downward movement of the vehicle body, with agradually increasing force.

an upward movement of the body the ring is moved bodily upward andpulling upon the strap-is likewise caused'to turn in a direction 1against the action of its controlling-springs (1, being in the samedirection as previously turned, so that said springs likewise act toresist the upward movement of the vehicle body, with a graduallyincreasing force. If 1 the ring is located a little above the pointshown inFig. 1, it will be turned in the same manner as beforedescribed, but will act sooner on the upward movement of the bod than onthe downward movement thereo';.1- and if located below the point shownin Fig. 1, the reversewill be true.

When placing the devices on a vehicle, four will be employed, andtheywill all be located either outside of the axles or inside 1 of theaxles, and, in such case, two of them will act to resist forwardmovement of the vehicle body and the other two will act to resistbackward movement of the vehicle body, both of which results are,desirable to obtain. I

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the hub h, controllmgssprings hi andringh*, are all 0011- structed substantially the same as in l to 4, butthe ring'is stationarijl l I being connected with thevehicl; b0. and thehub is rotatable orcircularly movable; The ring, therefore, serves asand constitutes. the non=rotatable or stationary member and the hubserves as and constitutes the circus substantially the same aspreviously described, but in practice it is not as eflicient directionowing to the limited distance moved bythe hub, which is connected withthe inner ends of the controlling-springs.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the hub h, controlling-s rings and ring hsubstantially as shown in igs. 7, 8 and 9, are shown, the ring servingas and constituting the stationary member, and. the hub the circularlymovable member, but instead of attaching them I to the vehicle body andconnecting the strap with the axle, they are attached to the runninggear and the strapis connected with the vehicle body. The 0 eration ofthis modified form of myinventlon is substantially the same asprevlously described, but in practice, like the modified form shown inFigs. 7, 8 and 9 it is notas efficient as the form shown in Figs. 1 to4.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a shock absorber'for vehicles, acircularly movablespring-controlled member, a

strap attached thereto, means for connecting.

one of said parts with the vehicle body, and means for connecting theother part with the running gear, said'member being so disposed withrespect .to the point of attachment of the strap, that u on both up anddown movements of the body the strap is pulled to turn sald sprin-controlled member in the same om its normal position against the actionof its controlling-springs, substantially as described.

2. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a circularly movablespring-controlled member supported upon the vehicle body, a strapattached thereto which is connected with the running gear, said memberbeing so disposed with respect to the point of attachment of the strap,that upon both up and down movements of the body the strap is pulled toturn the member in the same direction from its normal position againstthe action of its controlling springs, substantially as described.

3. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a circularly movablespring-controlled ring, a strap attached thereto which is connected withthe runnin gear, and means connecting said ring with t e body, and sodisposing it with respect to the point of attachment of the strap, thatupon both, up and down movements of the body the strap is pulled to turnthe ring in the same direction from its normal position against theaction of its controlling-springs, substantially as described.

.4. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a circularly movable springcontrolled ring supported upon the vehicle body, a strap connecting saidring with the running gear at a point whereby both up and down movementsof the'ring operate to pull the strap and turn the ring in the samedirection from its normal position against the action of itscontrollingsprings, substantially as described.

'5. In a shock-absorber for vehicles, a circularly movablespring-controlled member supported upon the vehicle body, meansconnecting it with the running gear at a point whereby both up and downmovements of saidbody and also a horizontal movement of said bodyrelative to the running gear operate to turn said member in the samedirection from its normal position against the action of itscontrolling-springs, substantially as described.

6. In a shock. absorber for vehicles, a circularly movablespring-controlled member, a strap attached thereto, means for connectinone of said parts with the vehicle body an means for connecting theother part with the running gear, said member bein so disposed with resset to the point of attac ment of the strap, t at upon both up and downmovements. of the bod and also a horizontal movement of said ody,relative to the run ning gear, the strap is pulled to turn saidspring-controlled member in the same direction from its normal positionagainst the action of its controlling-springs, substantial-1y asdescribed.

7. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a circularly movablespring-controlledmember, a 100 support therefor, a strap attached at oneend to said member, a support to which the other end of said strap isattached, one of said supports being borne by the vehicle body and theother by the running gear and being so disposed with respect to eachother that the strap is pulled upon both up and down movements of thebody, to turn said member in the same direction from its normal positionagainst the action of its controlling-springs, 110 substantially asdescribed.

8. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a cir- A cularly movable springcontrolledring sup ported upon the vehicle body and located at one sideof the axle, and a strap attached to said ring which is, connected withthe axle and arranged to turn said ring in the same direction from itsnormal position against the action of its controlling sprin s as saidring is moved both u and down bo ily with respect to the axle, sustantially as described.

9. In a shock absorber for vehicles, a nonrotating hub, means forconnecting it with the vehicle body, a ring inclosing said hub, apluralit of springs interposed between said ring an hub which areattached at their 0pposite ends respectively to said ring and hu and astrap, partially surrounding said ring, which is connected with therunning gear, said ring being so disposed with respect to the point ofattachment of the strap that the I name to this specification, in thepresence of ring is turned against the action of its con- I twosubscribing witnesses.

trollin -s rin s b said stra as the vehicle body i ov d b dth up anddown from its i DUNCAN ROBINSON 5 normal position with respect to therunning Witnesses:

gear, substantially as described. I B. J. NOYES, In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my H. B. DAVIS.

